Cilic turns back the clock in Montreal
Thirty-seven years old, three straight losses behind him, and still Marin Cilic walked onto court in Montreal like a man who belonged. The Croatian beat Japanese qualifier Sho Shimabukuro 7-6(2), 6-1 in the opening round of the National Bank Open, and the scoreline barely captures how comfortable he looked once the first-set tie-break fell his way.
The former US Open champion faced four break points. He saved all four. Shimabukuro pushed hard early, but once Cilic edged the tie-break, the qualifier had nothing left to trouble him. A single game in the second set was all the Japanese player managed.
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Hard courts bring out his best
Cilic arrived in Canada on the back of early exits at Queen’s and Wimbledon, part of a mini losing run that had cooled expectations. Hard courts change the conversation. His flat, heavy hitting travels fast on this surface, and Montreal carries good memories for him going back to a quarter-final run here in 2008.
He served with intent, dictated from the baseline, and rarely let Shimabukuro settle into rallies. For a player who has spent much of the past two seasons fighting injury and form, the level looked closer to the Cilic who once bullied opponents off the court in New York.
Tiafoe waits next
The reward is a meeting with 15th seed Frances Tiafoe, a step up that will tell us far more about where Cilic stands. The American has the speed and the shot-making to drag him into trouble. On this evidence, though, the veteran will not be walking out there just to make up the numbers.
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